Tourmaline

In the 1700's Dutch traders brought it to Europe from Sri Lanka and was commonly used in the end of Meerschaum pipes to pull up ash, calling the stone Aschentrekker, or "ash puller." It was at this point it was realised it was the same mineral as Schorl. This is because by heating or rubbing Tourmaline it becomes electrically charged with one end becoming positive and the other negative. This allows it to attract, or repel, particles of dust or bits of paper. This property is known as pyroelectricity (from heat) or piezoelectricity (from pressure or rubbing).